Florida Publix supermarket brawl erupts after racist slur at deli worker

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A fight broke out at a Publix supermarket in Temple Gardens, Florida on September 16
A black customer began using racial slurs while ordering chicken wings from a black deli employee according to an eyewitness
When another Publix employee asked the customer to stop using the language he went on a tirade and began screaming the n-word
The man was later identified as 59-year-old Raleigh Harris
After hearing what was happening, customer Leon Lightbody began to fight Harris and others joined in
Employees broke up the fight and Lightbody was arrested and charged with simple battery while Harris was not charged

Published: 15:03 EST, 24 September 2015 | Updated: 15:42 EST, 24 September 2015

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Customers at a Florida supermarket began to brawl last week after one man began yelling racial slurs.

The incident occurred at a Publix in Temple Gardens, and started after a black man ordering chicken wings at the deli began using the n-word while speaking with the female employee who was preparing his order.

When another employee at the deli told the man to stop speaking in the manner he was, he reportedly went crazy and began screaming.

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Brawl: A fight broke out at a Publix supermarket in Temple Gardens, Florida on September 16 after a customer was heard using racial slurs

'You wouldn’t really think to see that in the deli department, you know, or even a grocery store at that,' Jessica Jordan, who witnessed the incident, told NBC 8.

'I was like, "Ugh, great, rude people." I just felt like he was kind of, um, loud and obnoxious.'

Leon Lightbody (above) was arrested for fighting the racist customer

Then, Harris exploded after being told by the employee to lay off his co-worker.

'He got really outraged and told him to mind his fu*king business and kinda threw the n-word in there a few times. The guy that was ordering chicken was like running around the deli being chased by these other customers.'

That guy was later identified as 59-year-old Raleigh Harris, and his behavior angered Leon Lightbody so much he allegedly began to fight the man.

Soon others joined in, but only Lightbody was arrested and later charged with simple battery.

Some Publix employee also appear to be involved in the fight based on the video of the melee, but they claim they were trying to break things up.

Brian West, a spokesperson for the chain, said; 'An altercation occurred involving our customers. A couple of our associates placed themselves in harm’s way attempting to break it up. Fortunately, no injuries occurred.

'The safety and well-being of our associates and customers is our first priority. We’re very disappointed the incident escalated as it did, but thankful no one was injured.'

It is not known if Harris plans on pressing charges against Lightbody, and he was not arrested despite his racist tirade.